Investigators have been searching for Sarah Stern since her car was found unoccupied on the Route 35 Bridge in December. Watch video
Update: Pair charged in killing of Sarah Stern appear in court
NEPTUNE CITY - A pair of 19-year-old city residents have been charged in the killing of Sarah Stern, the Neptune City woman who has been missing since December after her car was found abandoned on a bridge.
Authorities have been investigating Stern's disappearance since her car was found parked on a Route 35 bridge in Belmar at approximately 2:45 a.m. on Dec. 3.
Liam McAtasney, left, and Preston Taylor, were charged with killing Sarah Stern. (Courtesy of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office)On Thursday morning, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said two men - Liam McAtasney and Preston Taylor, both 19 of Neptune City - had been arrested in Stern's death following "recent developments" in the investigation.
According to a criminal complaint dated Wednesday, McAtasney allegedly strangled Stern while trying to steal money from her on Dec. 2 and then took her body to the Route 35 Bridge in Belmar and threw her body over the side.
Taylor helped McAtasney move and dispose of Stern's body, the prosecutor's office said.
Prosecutor's office spokeswoman Donna Weaver said McAtasney and Taylor were both scheduled for a first court appearance on Thursday afternoon.
According to the prosecutor's office, McAtasney is charged with murder, robbery, desecration of human remains, conspiracy to desecrate human remains and hindering apprehension, while Taylor is charged with desecration of human remains, conspiracy to desecrate human remains, hindering apprehension and contempt.
After Stern's car was found unoccupied, working properly, with the keys inside, an extensive search of the Shark River was conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard, the New Jersey State Police, as well as local and county search teams.
As of Thursday afternoon, authorities have been unable to locate Stern's body, the prosecutor's office said.
Sarah Stern attended Neptune High School where she played softball and was also a member of the swim team. Michael Stern said his daughter started on the varsity softball team as a freshman. But she was also very interested in art and photography and has a keen interest in digital media, specifically YouTube videos. She studied art and TV production at Brookdale Community College for two semesters.
The Monmouth County Crime Stoppers organization had offered a $5,000 reward for anyone who had information that led to the "identification, arrest and prosecution of any suspect(s) in the disappearance" of Stern.
Anyone with information that can assist in this investigation is asked to contact Detective Brian Weisbrot of the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office at 1-800-533-7443, Detective Michael Vollbrecht of the Neptune City Police Department at 732-775-1615, or Detective John Mahoney from the Belmar Police Department at 732-681-1700.
The case is assigned to Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Decker, the director of the prosecutor's office's Major Crime Bureau.
Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.